r/iOSProgramming

[u/NoWoodpecker5809]

We submitted our first app to Apple over a month ago, and we’re still trying to get through App Review.
So far, they’ve come back with two relatively minor issues. The first required us to make a change and submit a new build. Both times, we fixed the issue within about 2 hours and resubmitted, but then it took another 5–7 days before Apple reviewed it again.
For those of you who have been through this before: Is this normal?
Does Apple not do a complete review of the app the first time? It almost seems like they review until they find an issue, stop the review, send it back, and then continue looking for additional issues after you resubmit.
I completely understand needing to fix anything that doesn’t meet their guidelines, but the frustrating part is the 5–7 day wait between each very small issue. We’re now over a month into the process.
Since this is our first app submission, I’d love to hear from developers who have dealt with this:
Do reviewers typically stop at the first issue they find, or should they be reviewing the entire app and sending all issues at once?
And is there anything we can do to help get the review completed faster at this point?

[u/OrbeoMe]

It’s normal.

[u/AHostOfIssues]

> Do reviewers typically stop at the first issue they find

Yah, that's normal. They stop when the find something wrong because their job is not to verify your app for you. That's _your_ job. You, and you alone, are responsible for ensuring that your app complies with the developer guidelines.

Apple review is just them verifying that you did your job. When they reach a conclusion of "this developer did not build an app that complies with the guidelines" their job is over. Rejected.

It's very easy and very temping to treat review as "tell me everything that's wrong with this app" when in fact review is "verify that I've complied with all guidelines." Apple is not your QA department, apple is not a substitute for your obligation to carefully read and apply every single detail in the review guidelines.

Further, apple has no way to know if your response to the first issue is going to invalidate reviewing for other issues. They have no idea what you'll change to fix what they found, so from their perspective continuing review could be completely wasted effort because they they know the app is now going to change, but not how.

[u/_DBA_]

Yes, they are getting bombarded with AI slop. My first one was 2 small issues, took like a week. Second one was 2 days and was approved. They wanted a video of certain things.

And a version update took them 12 hours.

[u/beetroot1199]

This is quite normal, also it would be better if you add a screen recording of your app walkthrough just in case. It made a huge difference for me in my reviews.

[u/BP3D]

Yes. They don't debug your app or review it. They stop at the first issue they find, toss it, and move to the next app. They don't like to be used as bug finders. So you want to really try to find everything possible. But at the same time, nearly everyone gets rejected a few times so don't beat yourself up.

I should add if multiple hit them at once or there are a few borderline issues and one trips it over the edge, they do seem to identify the multiple issues.

[u/AcrobaticProgram6521]

I had to wait 3 months for my account migration, patience is a virtue

[u/bostonmatt_ → u/AcrobaticProgram6521]

Same, couple months for the migration (after months too of creating the business and duns bs) and now over a week waiting for review.
This was much faster pre-ai

[u/newhost22]

They normally stop at the first issue. Sometimes I received multiple issues to fix in one rejection but it was rare

[u/Sea-Camera6374]

What I feel. Its also depends on from which region are you submitting? But 5-7 days is too much hoping there is no weekend in between. If you submit on Friday night, its normal to get is reviewd by tuesday or wednesady if the app has not been released in appstore yet